Who the Devil is Satan?

Names in the Bible Attributed to Satan

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harles Baudelaire (1821-1867) wrote, “The devil's best ruse is to
persuade us that he does not exist.”

A man came to Charles Finney, the well-known evangelist, and said, “I don't
believe in the existence of a devil.”

“Don't you?” asked Finney. “Well, you resist him for a while, and you will
believe in him.” To resist the devil (James 4:7) we need to be forewarned of
his tactics. To be forewarned is to be fore-armed. By knowing some of the
biblical names of Satan, we can know his nature and how he behaves.

If you don't believe in the devil's existence, try working for God for a while.
Fyodor Mikhaylovich Dostoyevski (1821-1881) in The Brothers Karamazov
wrote, “If the devil doesn't exist, but man has created him, [then] he has
created him in his own image and likeness.”

Anthony T. Evans wrote: “I know a bit about wrestling because my brother,
Arthur, was the Maryland state wrestling champion in his weight class. At
his championship match my brother weighed in at about 230 pounds and
was going up against the three-time Maryland state champion who out-
weighed him by 35 pounds. Before the match, a reporter asked, ‘Who is the
toughest wrestler in this room?’

My brother, humble fellow that he is, said, “You are looking at him!’

The reporter looked at him and asked, ‘What makes you think you are so
tough? You are about to fight the man who has won the state championship
three times in a row.’

My brother replied with a very insightful comment, ‘I know. He is bigger
and perhaps stronger than I am, but I know his methods.’”

Just as Arthur Evans needed to learn his opponent's methods, we need to
understand Satan's methods. By studying his various names we can see
something of his hideous character and be prepared.

Many names on this list are subjective and interpretation-dependent, but all
represent a character we ought to have absolutely nothing to do with, under
any circumstances (Ephesians 6:12).

Names in the Bible Attributed to Satan

1. Abaddon (Revelation 9:11). Hebrew term meaning destroyer. and
Apollyon, the Greek term also meaning destroyer. Erwin W. Lutzer (1941- )
wote, “No matter how many pleasures Satan offers you, his ultimate
intention is to ruin you. Your destruction is his highest priority.”

2. Accuser (Revelation 12:10). Don't permit Satan to remind you of what
God has already forgotten.

3. Adversary (1 Peter 5:8). Charles R. Swindoll (1934- ) wrote, “Our
adversary is a master strategist, forever fogging up our minds with
smokescreens.”

4. Angel of the Bottomless Pit (Revelation 9:11; Heb. 2:14-15). The devil
is an equal opportunity employer—all who work for him will suffer the
same fate. When the devil brings up your past, you bring up his future. If
God was prepared to extinguish Jesus for our sin, how much more will He
extinguish Satan for his. According to author Daniel Defoe, when Robinson
Crusoe's companion Friday asked him, “Why doesn't God destroy the
devil?” Robinson Crusoe replied, “God will destroy him.”

5. Angel of Light (2 Corinthians 11:12-14; Isaiah 14:12; Revelation 12:3,
4). This phrase best describes Satan’s masterful ability of imitation and his
counterfeit proposals given to individuals. William Shakespeare (1564-1616)
wrote, “The devil hath power to assume a pleasing shape.” Elsewhere he
wrote, “Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell.” He is as cunning as
a wolf in sheep’s clothing, disguising evil in a good-looking package
(Matthew 7:15). The poet Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822) wrote, “
Sometimes the devil is a gentleman.”

6. Beelzebub or Beelzebul (Matthew 10:25; 12:24, 27; Mark 3:22). The
exact meaning of this term is not known. It is suggested that it means “lord
of the house” and may refer to Satan’s authority over the demons.

7. Belial or Beliar (2 Corinthians 6:15). This term was used in the Old
Testament in the context of “worthlessness.”

8. Blinder of People’s Minds (2 Corinthians 4:4). One of the devil's
temptations is to so occupy our minds with the past and future that we
neglect the present. His purpose is to keep individuals in darkness or

ignorance of the light of the Gospel.

9. Counterfeiter (2 Corinthians 11:14, 15). He is able to present an innocent
facade. However, Graham Loftus warns, “It's counterproductive to become
so afraid of a deception that we fail to embrace the genuine.”

10. Creator of Division (2 Corinthians 2:10, 11; James 3:13-16). He is out
to cause dissension and disagreement between Christians.

11. Deceiver (Revelation 12:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:9,10). He seeks by all
possible means to create false impressions and misunderstandings, and use
innuendoes, to cause us to fight amongst each other. Fyodor Mikhaylovich
Dostoyevski (1821-1881) wrote, “The devil wrestles with God, and the field
of battle is the human heart.”

A sort of creeping comes over my skin
when I hear the devil quote Scripture.

— Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832)

12. Devil (Matthew 13:39; Ephesians 6:11). This term occurs in the New
Testament only. It comes from the Greek language, (diabolos) meaning to
accuse and slander (literally, a person who throws things at people).

13. Devourer (1 Peter 5:8). “... the devil ... walketh about, seeking whom
he may devour”

14. Director of Demonic Activity (Matthew 12:24; Ephesians 6:12). He
controls an army of evil spirits/demons* (daimons). Remember he controls
only one third; God has two thirds (Revelation 12:4). *Not a biblical term.

15. Dragon (Isaiah 51:9, Revelation 12:3, 7; 13:2). The term dragon means
literally “serpent” or “monster”. A dragon is a terrifying and destructive
beast who seeks the total devastation of God’s people. This image is not
meant to terrify us, bearing in mind that God is more powerful and that
Michael (Jesus) fights on our behalf (Revelation 12:7, 8).

16. Enemy (1 Peter 5:8). He is totally dedicated to the opposition of the
children of God with destructive ferocity.

17. Evil Angel (2 Corinthians 11:12-14). John Milton (1608-1674) wrote,
“Devil: the strongest and fiercest spirit that fought in heaven, now fiercer by
despair.”

18. The Evil One (Matthew 13:19, 38; Ephesians 6:16). A description of his

character and work.

19. Father of Lies (John 8:44). Satan’s opposition to God includes a vast
host of fallen angels and his counterfeit proposals, which do not derive their
source from the Lord. It describes Satan as the source [father] of all that is
untrue [lies] (1 John 3:8.). A young man, under the influence of drink, stood
on the outside of a crowd and boasted that he would make the open-air
preacher stop preaching. He shouted: “Hey, Mister, you can go home; you
don't need to preach any more—the devil's dead!”

The preacher looked at the young man sternly and replied, “If the devil's
dead, then you are an orphan!”

20. Fowler or Ensnarer (Psalms 91:3; 1 Timothy 3:7). He is out to trap the
Christian to commit sin, thus ruining and spoiling his testimony. Saint
Ambrose (C. 340-397) wrote, “The devil's snare does not catch you unless
you are first caught by the devil's bait.”

'Gainst the logic of the devil,
Human logic strives in vain.

— Adam Lindsay Gordon (1833-1870)

21. God and Prince of this World (2 Corinthians 4:4; John 12:31; 14:30;
16:15; Ephesians 2:2; 6:12). He stirs up the three cravings described in

1 John 2:16 (foolish pride, selfish desires, & worldly desires) and focuses
Christians on self-seeking. A Welsh Proverb says, “The devil has three
children: pride, falsehood, and envy.”

22. The God of this World (2 Corinthians 4:4). He sponsors false religion
and all the false cults and systems that are against Christianity. He presides
over our anti-God lifestyle.

23. Hinderer (1 Thessalonians 2:18). He seeks to put things in the way of
the Christian seeking to do God’s will. He also is opposed to our prayers and
fights against them (Daniel 10:12-11:1). Joseph Hall (1574-1656) wrote,
“Satan rocks the cradle when we sleep at our devotions.”

24. Hostile Opponent (Zechariah 3:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:17-18). He is the
grand adversary to everything good and is dedicated to the opposition of
God’s plans.

25. King of Babylon (Isaiah 14:4). This name means confusion; ‘Babel’,
i.e., “he keeps babbling about...” (i.e., Babylon = nonsense). This also refers

to Babylonia and the Babylonian empire.

26. King of Tyrus (Ezekiel 28:12). This name refers to a rock; “Tsor’, is a
place in Palestine. Satan is a false rock because Christ is the only true Rock
(1 Corinthians 10:4).

27. Liar (John 8:44). He is the father, inspirer, and creator of lies. His goal
is to stimulate us to lie also (Acts 5:3).

The city Achzib (an Hebrew name) is also sometimes applied to Satan
because the name also means ‘liar’ (Micah 1:14).

28. Little Horn (Daniel 7:8). A symbolic power lead by the Satanic
controlling influence behind it.

29. Lucifer (Isaiah 14:12). This term means the morning star. It literally
means a “light-bearer”, the shining one, a picture of Satan’s original position
in heaven with the angels. He is able still to masquerade as a beautiful being
to snare Christians (2 Corinthians 11:14). John Milton (1608-1674) wrote,
“Satan; so call him now, his former name is heard no more in heaven.”

30. Misleader (1 Timothy 4:1). He uses evil spirits to mislead Christians in
Bible truth and doctrine. If the devil tries to tell you that you are not a
Christian, tell him it is none of his business. Frances J. Roberts wrote,
“Confusion is the dust raised by the feet of the devil.”

31. Murderer (1 Peter 5:8; John 8:44; Revelation 9:11). He is the destroyer
and devourer. He is intent upon the callous and calculated destruction of
God’s children.

32. Oppressor (Acts 10:38; 1 Kings 19). He uses depression and
discouragement as weapons to sabotage the Christian’s sense of purpose.

33. Outwitter (Luke 22:32; 2 Cor. 2:11; 11:3-15; Eph. 6:16). He probes us
for weakness, then misleads, misdirects and undermines our strengths,
hopes, faith and love in the wrong direction, away from God’s will.

Mima Antrim wrote, “Illusion is the dust the devil throws in the eyes of the
foolish.”

34. The Prince of the Power of the Air (Eph. 2:2; 6:12). As such, he is the
tyrannical leader of the evil angels and prince over this vast host or army of
subordinates (demons) who carry out his orders.

35. The Prince of this World (Daniel 10:12-11:1; John 12:31; 14:30
16:11). This seems to refer to his influence over the governments and

political arenas of this world, that he is the one who is the ruler and guards
his position.

36. The Prince That Shall Come (Daniel 9:26). This is a picture of a
military commander of an army, occupying the front, doing horrible
atrocities. Also see 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 and Revelation 12:7-9.

37. Promoter of Pride (Genesis 3:5; 1 Timothy 3:6). He stimulates
humanity’s high appraisal of itself.

38. Roaring Lion (1 Peter 5:8). This “word picture” emphasizes Satan’s
continual persecution and his role as a persecutor of believers.

39. Ruler of Darkness (Acts 26:18; 2 Corinthians 6:14; Colossians 1:13; 1
John 2:9-11). His kingdom is totally without the light of truth, peace and
love.

40. Satan (1 Chronicles 21:1; Job 1:2ff; Job 16; Zechariah 3:1-2; Matthew
4:10). This term means “adversary”; he is the chief antagonist both to God
and to humans.

41. Serpent (Genesis 3:1; Isaiah 27:1; Revelation 12:9; 20:2): This term
refers to his “crookedness”, “craftiness”, and “deceitfulness.” This name
reveals the first reference to Satan in the Bible, as he stalked and deceived
Eve. His intention is malice, fury, cruelty, all directed toward God’s truth
and God’s people. John Milton (1608-1674) wrote, “The serpent—subtlest
beast of all the field”

42. Slanderer (Revelation 12:10). Billy Bray, a Comish miner whose
rugged piety has been a blessing to many, says that one year his crop of
potatoes turned out so poorly that, when he was digging them, Satan, at his
elbow, said, “There, Billy, isn't that poor pay for serving your Father the way
you have all the year? Just see those small potatoes!” He stopped digging
and replied, “Ah, Satan, at it again; talking against my Father, bless His
name! Why, when I served you I did not get any potatoes at all. What are
you talking about?” And on he went digging and praising the Lord for small
potatoes.

43. Son of Perdition (John 17:12; 2 Thessalonians 2:3). Satan can and will
cause ruin or loss in physical, spiritual or eternal arenas. He will destroy you
fully if you let him and if you refuse Christ’s love and mediation.

44. Spirit of Antichrist (1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 1:7).

45. Stimulator of Lust (Ephesians 2:2, 3). He distorts normal desires, by
taking God’s design and inflaming it; uncontrolled sensuality (or emotion) is
a tool of Satan. A Danish Proverb reminds us, “It is easy to bid the devil to
be your guest, but difficult to get rid of him”.

46. Strong Man (Matthew 12:29). Satan is powerless to prevent the
Kingdom of God because he will eventually be bound (Revelation 9:11).
We do not have the power to do it as some teach; only Christ does and did
(starting at the cross).

47. Suppressor of the Word of God (Matthew 13:38, 39). He constantly
seeks to block the proclamation, acceptance, and use of the Scriptures —
and then mis-uses them himself (Matthew 4:6; Genesis 3:1)

48. The Tempter (Genesis 3:1-4; Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13; 1
Thessalonians 3:5). His plan is to persuade us to take an alternate course to
God’s way.

49. Tempting Enticer (2 Chronicles 18:20, 21; Proverbs 1:10; Matthew
4:3). This name indicates that his constant purpose is to cause people to sin.
This term seems to indicate that he presents the most plausible excuses and
suggests the most striking advantage for sinning (Proverbs 20:17a).

Henry George Bohn (1796-1884) wrote, “The devil entangles youth with
beauty, the miser with gold, the ambitious with power, the learned with false
doctrine.”

50. Trickster (Ephesians 6:11). He uses subtle ways and means of
confusing the Lord’s people. A. W. Tozer (1897-1963) wrote, “The whole
world has been booby-trapped by the devil, and the deadliest trap of all is
the religious one.”

51. Troubler (2 Corinthians 12:7). He seeks to invade the physical realm
and to limit the strength of God’s children.

52. The Wicked One (1 John 5:18, Ephesians 6:16). Pictured as shooting
fiery darts to tempt and destroy.

In contrast to this list, Billy Sunday tells us , “There are two hundred and
fifty-six names given in the Bible for the Lord Jesus Christ, and I suppose
this was because He was infinitely beyond all that any one name could
express”.
©1979, Renewed 2018, Lionel D C Hartley
www.lIrhartley.com admin@Irhartley.com